Introduction

This comprehensive guide walks you through the essential steps to create, connect, and manage product catalogs for WhatsApp messaging using Facebook's tools.

By the end of this module, you'll be able to successfully send product messages—whether for single or multiple products—by integrating Facebook catalogs with WhatsApp Business.

The process involves understanding catalog creation, connection, product matching, and currency setup, ensuring seamless communication between your e-commerce platform and WhatsApp.

Key Steps and Best Practices

1. Understanding the Core Requirements

• Two main prerequisites:

  • A Facebook catalog

  • Connection of this catalog with your WhatsApp number

• Important notes:

  • You can use an existing Facebook catalog or create a new one.

  • One catalog can be linked to multiple WhatsApp numbers.

  • Only one catalog per WhatsApp Business number is allowed.

2. Creating a Facebook Catalog

• Via Facebook Business Manager:

  • Log into your Facebook Business Manager.

  • Select your business account.

  • Navigate to Data Sources.

  • Click Create New Catalog.

  • Choose the appropriate catalog type (e.g., e-commerce).

• Using Facebook Commerce Manager:

  • After creation, access the catalog interface.

  • You will need the Catalog ID for later use in messaging.

• Adding Products:

  • Manually: Add products one by one.

  • Bulk Upload: Use a Google Sheets template provided by Facebook.

  • Note: Currently, uploading is manual, but future automation is planned via API.

3. Connecting Catalogs to WhatsApp

• Linking process:

  • Use the 360dialog platform or relevant documentation.

  • Ensure your Facebook catalog is connected to your WhatsApp Business account.

  • This connection allows product information to sync automatically.

• Important identifiers:

  • Content ID: Unique product identifier in Facebook.

  • SKU: Must match the Content ID in your chat system for product matching.

4. Matching Products in Chat and Facebook

• Why it matters:

  • When a customer makes a purchase, WhatsApp only sends back the Content ID.

  • To display product details in your chat, the SKU in your chat system must match the Content ID.

• How to ensure matching:

  • When creating products in Facebook, copy the Content ID.

  • In your chat platform, set the SKU to the same value.

  • This alignment ensures accurate product display and order tracking.

5. Managing Product Data and Synchronization

• Manual updates:

  • Copy product name, description, and Content ID from Facebook.

  • Update your chat system accordingly.

• Future automation:

  • Planned API integration will enable one-click sync between Facebook and chat platforms.

6. Currency and Pricing Setup

• Multiple currencies:

  • Adjust prices in Facebook catalog for different currencies.

  • Ensure the prices match those in your chat system for consistency.

• Price display:

  • The price shown in WhatsApp messages is pulled from Facebook.

  • Accurate currency and pricing are crucial for customer trust.

Summary

In summary, creating and managing Facebook product catalogs is vital for effective WhatsApp business messaging. The process involves setting up catalogs via Facebook Business Manager, uploading products, and ensuring identifiers like SKU and Content ID are aligned. Connecting these catalogs to WhatsApp enables automated, seamless product sharing, enhancing customer experience. Future developments aim to automate synchronization, reducing manual effort. Remember, accurate product data, proper identifiers, and currency management are key to successful integration.

By mastering these steps, you'll be well-equipped to leverage Facebook catalogs for dynamic, personalized WhatsApp communication, ultimately boosting your e-commerce efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Key Takeaways:

Stay tuned for the next module, where we will explore connecting your catalog with WhatsApp for automated messaging.